Northern Kentucky University Department of Athletics and Braxton Brewing Company have reached a partnership through Norse Sports Properties, a Learfield Sports property. This local partnership will lead to the creation of the Braxton Beer Garden and Norse Pale Ale.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to team up with Northern Kentucky University – an institution so close to home for our entire company,” said Jake Rouse, Co-Founder and CEO at Braxton Brewing Company. “Norse Pale Ale is a bright citrus forward pale ale that is sure to be a fan favorite and there’s no better place to enjoy it than the newly constructed Braxton Beer Garden right in BB&T Arena!”

The Covington, Kentucky-based craft brewing company is creating a craft beer garden inside BB&T Arena, home of Norse men’s and women’s basketball. Fans will be able to enjoy Braxton’s brews in the newly created Braxton Beer Garden, located in the Valhalla veranda on the south end of the bowl, which also features a bar created from empty bourbon barrels in which Braxton aged beer, several high-definition televisions, and Braxton imagery throughout.

While Braxton’s craft beers will be served in the beer garden, lovers of both Norse Athletics and craft beer can also enjoy the Norse Pale Ale, an American Pale Ale brewed specifically in celebration of this partnership.

Those in the cybersecurity world, like technology expert Dave Hatter (who is also the Mayor of Fort Wright) have been sounding the alarm for years. “Cybersecurity is a top issue for our entire community.” said Hatter. “We need to do more to protect ourselves. With a seemingly endless stream of increasingly sophisticated attacks, none of us feel safe at the moment.”

Consider these statistics.
- 32% of companies said they were the victims of cybercrime in 2016.
- 65% of professionals identified phishing and social engineering as the biggest security threat to their organization.
- The average time attackers stay hidden on a network is over 140 days.
- Ransomware attacks have risen 250% this year (much higher than previous predictions), while global ransomware damages are predicted to exceed $5 billion.

Highlands High School seniors Maleah Abner, Josie Daley, Rachel Farney and Lily Lorenz attended the 2017 Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences University program hosted by the Kentucky Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences (KATFACS) October 22-23, 2017, in Frankfort, KY. Sixty-five students from across the Commonwealth who are considering Family & Consumer Sciences Education as their major participated in this event.

This 1.5 day workshop explored the profession as well as postsecondary education options in Kentucky. This program allowed networking opportunities so that students could begin building relationships with their future classmates at state universities that currently have an FCS education major.

“I knew after I attended last year that I wanted to pursue being an FCS teacher, and this year I had the opportunity to have my questions answered and meet my future professor at EKU,” said Lily Lorenz.

This is a story about an extraordinarily rare disease shared by three people who connected through their shared illness. But what’s more important is how we are all connected in more powerful ways than we ever thought.

First, you need to know that Wegener’s Granulomatosis is a rare autoimmune disease with a high mortality rate that falls on the spectrum of vasculitis. It is often called an “orphan” disease. Stacey Sprague Rust at first just thought she had a chronic sinus infection. Since the disease attacks the small vessels the symptoms are masked and can be easily overlook and diagnosed as something else. This went on for eleven years. Eleven years. Her symptoms changed, the diagnoses changed, her frustration grew, biopsies, tests, the Cleveland Clinic, but then finally she got an answer. “I was floored,” she says of her diagnosis.

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Stacey verifies an old saying that “You don’t know how strong you are until you have to be.” Her medical team is pleased with her progress and Rust is happy with the return of “The General”, the nickname her father gave her since she was a bossy little girl. Her husband, Chris Rust, puts it into some perspective. “We are still at an unknown because there’s a 40% change that she could relapse,” he says. Now she is on a maintenance program with periodic tests every few months. But getting there was a difficult and trying journey. You can imagine how frustrating it must have been to go from diagnosis to diagnosis and to be on a medical regimen that ultimately proved wrong. But that’s not the story.

In 2016, Chris Brewer took a phone call that offered him the chance to work on a project in St. Paul, Minnesota. Little did he know that by saying yes, he would start a journey that could take him all the way to the Super Bowl in Minneapolis in February 2018.

Brewer, who was working as a web and mobile app developer in Newport, was intrigued by his colleague's idea to focus on enhancing public safety with technology. Simply, the idea was this: Municipalities have video cameras, and businesses have security cameras, but they're not connected.

"Time is the biggest enemy to solving crimes," Brewer, a 48-year-old Fort Thomas resident, said. "If we could develop a system that would eliminate the need for police to go building-by-building to see their cameras, this would definitely help conserve time."

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So they did, creating an app that essentially connected the cameras for the St. Paul-based company SecuroNet. That led to a relationship of sharing ideas, and two years later, they came up with another. "It was compelling," Brewer said. "If we could help enhance public safety, why wouldn't we want to do it?"

It led to Brewer being hired full time by SecuroNet, this time to work on a security system for the next Super Bowl, held in February in -- you guessed it -- Minneapolis.

Just before Christmas 2016, Brewer met with the Minnesta company for a brainstorming session. The idea: to develop an app where administrators have the ability to understand where police forces are, displayed in real time.

Saturday, October 28, 2017

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Grady Cramer takes off on a 53-yard reception in the first quarter at Boone County on Friday. Cramer scored a touchdown and two two-point conversions in the 36-12 Highlands win.

The Highlands Bluebirds football coaching staff has not been afraid to rest players in order to keep them healthy for the playoffs after the completion of district games.

Several key players did not see the field against either Greenwood or Boone County to end the regular season. Offensively, senior Nick Veneman did not play in the last two games after he sat out the second half of the Covington Catholic game with his leg iced down. Veneman has 34 catches for 530 yards and eight touchdowns.

It had been a while since the Highlands Bluebirds football team faced this difficult of weather and field conditions.

Highlands had faced temperatures similar to Friday in the 50 and 60-degree Fahrenheit range late in the regular season into the playoffs in recent years. But it had been a while since the Bluebirds (5-5) battled the combination of steady rain coming down on a grass field. As a result, a number of fans stayed home.

Despite that, the Bluebirds found their own intensity and defeated the Boone County Rebels, 36-12 to finish the regular season 5-5 overall and go into the playoffs on a two-game winning streak. The Rebels are the lone team the Bluebirds have beaten in each of the past three years.

"Everyone in this room has a digital tattoo. You didn’t ask for it, you don’t know where it is, you don’t know who can see it…and that digital tattoo will follow you for the rest of your life,"
social media expert Stephen J. Smith told a crowd of ninth and tenth graders at Highlands High School this week.

Smith repeated his message at sessions for faculty and for juniors and seniors as part of a presentation by local experts aimed at making students aware of the deep and lasting impact that can occur from the misuse of powerful social sharing tools.

Campbell County Attorney Steven Franzen and District Court Judge Cameron Blau joined Smith to make students, faculty and the community aware of the consequences of inappropriate use of social media.

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Fort Thomas Independent Schools are seeking community members to translate their business acumen and passions to adults.

The district is putting together a “community education” schedule for next semester.

“The course offerings are only limited by your imagination,” said Diana McGhee, the District’s Director of Technology and Information.

“Please consider participating. As an instructor, you will have the flexibility of many variables including the day and time you wish to teach, in which building you wish to teach, how many sessions you wish to teach and the length of the sessions.”

Instructors will be compensated according to the Supplemental Teaching Services Salary Schedule.

Dan Gorman with his wife, Leigh, and children Olivia, Gwen and Charlie.

Many know that Fort Thomas resident Dan Gorman, owner of the
Hiland building, has big visions for the city. These visions include his recent
purchase of 20 Grand, which we'll share a story on soon. What many don’t know is that his ability to problem-solve
via acquisitions, the repositioning of existing properties and the building of new properties to
meet an area’s demand has allowed him to make a difference well outside of our
central business district. Gorman's work in Kigali, Rwanda, Africa, is providing
jobs to many and allowing a new segment of the population to buy, instead of
build, their own homes.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior wide receiver Austin King looks to give the ball back to the ref after making a play against Greenwood on Friday.

In terms of outcome goals, the Highlands Bluebirds football team (4-5) heads to Florence to face the Boone County Rebels (1-8) on Friday aiming to finish the regular season at an even 5-5.

But to do that, the focus on performance goals in practice all week and leading into the game Friday at 7 p.m. has to be as good as ever. The last thing anyone wants to believe is the non-district game against the Rebels will be a cakewalk even though Boone County has struggled these last six seasons. The Rebels have gone 4-60 since going 9-5 and winning a region championship in 2011.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Once a year in the fair land of Fort Thomas, there is a
gathering of little children at the Castle of Woodfill Elementary School. The
children have a magical morning of fun: a feast of breakfast delights, magical
music, a grand performance by many Princesses and Superheroes, to play games,
make crafts and chat with the Princesses and Superheroes.

Have you turned on your heat yet? Call today for a service check-up. 859-781-HMAC.

Saturday, November 11, 2017 from 9-11a.m. at Woodfill
Elementary School is the 3rd Annual Princesses and Superhero
Breakfast fundraiser for the Highland High School Varsity Dance Team. The event
costs $20 per child and $10 per adult. Adults are not required to attend unless
the child is 3 years old or younger.

A few Northern Kentucky runners are flirting with 2,000-yard seasons as the 2017 regular season closes.

Ryle senior running back Jake Chisholm has been dominating opposing defenses all season and is 472 yards shy of a 2,000-yard season for the Raiders with 1,528 yards on 180 carries and 23 touchdowns.

Ludlow senior quarterback Justin Blackburn has 1,515 yards on 144 carries with 25 touchdowns and Campbell County senior running back Alex Dowds has carried 157 times for 1,383 yards and 18 touchdowns for the Camels this season. Those numbers for Dowds include 447 yards on 20 carries with four touchdowns Oct. 6 in a 54-28 win at Conner.

As those runners close in on possible historic seasons for their teams, here’s a look at nine of the top rushing seasons for Northern Kentucky runners the past 25 years, starting with the best of all time.

Shaun Alexander, Boone County, 1994 -- 3,166 yards

Shaun Alexander was a star from the first time he touched the football as a sophomore at Boone County in 1992 when he ran for a touchdown against Dixie Heights on his first carry. But it was his senior season that cemented him as the most prolific running back in Northern Kentucky football history.

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Alexander carried 456 times for 3,166 yards in 1994 with a state-record 50 touchdowns on the ground to lead the Rebels to the state finals. His 326 points that season remain the state record. The yardage still stands as the third-highest total in state history behind Frank Jones’ 3,361 yards for Bath County in 1969 and J.J. Jude, who ran for 3,203 yards for Johnson Central in 2010 to push Alexander to third. Alexander’s 456 carries are still the second-most in state history.

His 104 career rushing touchdowns ranked him in the top-five nationally at the time, ahead of National Football League all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith and former Cincinnati high-school star Carlos Snow, who had 104 at CAPE from 1983-86. None of the three remain in the top 20 today, however.

Alexander was voted Kentucky's Mr. Football in 1994, becoming the first Northern Kentucky player to win the award since Newport Central Catholic tight end Frank Jacobs, the first Mr. Football in 1986. Highlands quarterbacks Jared Lorenzen (1998) and Patrick Towles (2011) are the only other Northern Kentucky winners.

Alexander finished his career with 6,662 yards and chose Alabama for his college career. He later starred for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL and won the league MVP award in 2005.

“I'm not really surprised by what I've done,” Alexander told The Kentucky Post in 1994. “I always knew the offensive line was real good. The first time I ran, I scored. I knew after I learned all the plays I would get better.”

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The Friends of Evergreen and the Fort Thomas Museum will co-sponsor a unique tour of Evergreen Cemetery on November 4 as part of their Veterans Day remembrance. The cemetery is more than a burial ground. Its strategic geography played a pivotal role in the defense of Fort Thomas, Newport, and Cincinnati and evidence of its military past will be part of the tour.

Located in the Hiland Building, 18 N. Fort Thomas Ave.

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There are about 275 veterans buried in Evergreen Cemetery as well as a number of notable people who were instrumental in the settlement and development of the area. Deanna Beineke, one of the organizers, says, “Special attention will be given to … two Medal of Honor recipients buried there: Thomas Doherty… and William Horsfall, the youngest Medal of Honor recipient.”

The tour will be led by Scott Froendhoff, museum board member and Evergreen volunteer. Beineke adds that the tour will also visit military sites within the cemetery like “Shaler Battery, built as part of defensive ring of batteries surrounding Cincinnati during Civil War.”

The Charities Guild of Northern Kentucky will host its annual Happy Feet Ball on November 4 at the Newport Syndicate. Tickets are $60 and include appetizers and open bar from 8 p.m. - Midnight. Cincinnati Circus will provide casino gaming throughout the event.

"We are so glad the casino games are returning this year with the help of our presenting sponsor Gruelle-Dempsey Orthodontics," says Sarah Cameron, Guild President-Elect and PR Chair for this year's event. "The games were a hit last year and the Ambassador's Room at the Syndicate creates the best atmosphere for a fun night out with friends while helping our community."

The Happy Feet Ball is the Guild's primary fundraiser for its Shoe Fund that has provided shoes to underprivileged children for over 25 years.

The Guild partners with area schools, churches and social service agencies to identify students in need, then distributes a $30 voucher for a new pair of shoes at a national discount retail store. This allows the student to shop for his or her own pair of shoes, a source of pride and a learning experience.

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"The feedback we get from this program is overwhelming," says Marci Schroder, Co-Chair of the Shoe Fund. "We are told that when children arrive at school with shoes in good condition, they are better able to focus on learning and have more confidence. With so many students walking to school in our area, it is hard to imagine the pain of ill-fitting shoes or shoes that are falling apart."

The Happy Feet Ball will include a silent auction and raffles throughout the evening. Dress is cocktail attire and entertainment will be provided by McFadden Music DJ.

1OTH ANNUAL - THE SIMPLE PORTRAIT PROJECT (TSPP)

Jonathan Robert Willis, Founder and Lead Photographer

Jonathan Robert Willis is an internationally recognized photographer whose clients range from Google to Good Sam to P&G. Jonathan, better known as JONBOB, and his family have travelled throughout Africa, India and Central America documenting the undaunted and effortless elegance of ordinary, everyday beautiful life. He and his family live in Fort Thomas on a street “with 50 kids” surrounded by woods where his children explore endlessly.

His portraits and travel work rally our better selves, reflecting the human aspect in bare, simple splendor. His photographs show us our humanity and individuality by capturing the instant a mouth becomes a smile, a long stare, the curl of a finger, dust, sun and silhouette. From his website: “It’s with a looking-glass take on time and good judgment, he sets himself apart”.

When I arrived at Carabello Coffee in Newport to meet JONBOB, Justin Carabello, co-owner of the coffee shop (who is, by the way an absolutely delightful man who makes you feel you have arrived at your home away from home) described him as a tall, disarming, extremely talented man whose studio is just around the corner. After spending an hour with JONBOB discussing the upcoming 10th year of The Simple Portrait Project, I would add inspiring, interesting, enthusiastic - a keen listener and observer.

From TSPP website: the project is “embodiment of creativity, simplicity, improvisation and beauty”. For the 10th year running, photographers and families have shown up at a simple, unpolished space and have left with photographs that are insightful and wholly authentic. Starting November 4th at 706 York Street in Newport, KY for five consecutive weekends the family portrait will be reinterpreted over the course of 400 portrait sessions.

Families and groups schedule a 30 minute session. They show up, have a local beer or something stiffer, bring willingness and trust the photographer’s creative push. Families leave with at least four black and white, professional digital images.

Enjoy a drink - white, brown, or local w/ bubbles + plenty of juice boxes for the kids

20 min portrait session with a world class photographer

Work with an editor to narrow down your strongest photos

Leave with your final images on a USB ready to print

TSPP is an opportunity to create a unique memory. It’s a collaboration between families, photographers and editors. When families and groups sign up they are trusting the photographer to take them to an interesting place and in turn the photographer trusts them to bring a willingness and take a leap of faith.

JONBOB describes the five week sessions as a creative marathon. Steamer trunks, rugged old world chests and chairs provided by Monmouth Street Antique Gallery are reinterpreted with each session. The atmosphere is fun, festive and spontaneous. Scenarios are setup to fall apart and come back together - becoming more interesting with each creative moment.

For the photographers it’s an artistic challenge based around specific limitations. For families and groups it’s a unique experience and an opportunity to have the character and genius of your family dynamic captured elegantly with affection.

In addition to JONBOB, this year’s photographers include:

Steve Willis is based in Colorado Springs. He focuses on light and its transcendent effect on the human figure.

Best Day Ever are a husband and wife team based in Cincinnati. On the last day of the five-week session Amy and Aaron Hildebrand will take over the final sessions and wrap up the 10th year of TSPP. Jessica Ebelharis based in Louisville. Her style is classic, raw and honest and she loves collaboration.Jeremy Kramer is based in Cincinnati. He knows how to bring out the best in his clients and loves collaboration.

Over the past 10 years TSPP has created an anthology of portraits. From the familiar to the offbeat, adventures taken, sundry deeds, and brushes with fate - all visible in the particular bearings of the photographed. Moments forgotten, almost forgotten or deeply embedded - all there for anyone who looks closely. These portraits are biographies of memory - a most precious and elegant gift.

TSPP is a unique environment combined with an innovative and technically clean approach to portraiture allowing for unobscured moments of richness and depth. These photographers convey the ordinary and extraordinary. Their portraits helps us understand the beauty and fleeting nature of our lives. They distill time like alchemists finding perfection in the imperfect in a single frame.

A lot has been happening in the first three weeks of fall classes at The Dance Realm, including inviting various professional princesses to visit throughout princess week for the younger dancers, before finishing up with a cast member from Wicked, who instructed the older students.

Jarosz, has also danced as part of the top 20 with "So You Think You Can Dance" as well as with Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Suzanne Janosick has been in the Health Insurance Industry
as a licensed Agent for 10+ years.Her
family has a unique mark in the Insurance Industry, her husband, Jeff Janosick,
is also a local Health Insurance Broker. “I would say we are the Chip and Joanna
Gaines of Health Insurance!” “Our date nights could be considered unexciting
discussing the Affordable Care Act and Ever Changes in the Health Care
Industry” But nonetheless we love what we do and passionate about helping our
clients.

Why Medicare?

I recently made the decision to completely focus my services
on Medicare. I believe that when you turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare you
need an unbiased Advocate to help choose plans that meet your needs and budget.
My Mom came up with the name Medicare
My Way. I helped my own parents with their plan options. Everyone’s medical
situation is different. My Dad decided on a different Supplement than my Mom. It’s
a personal decision. It’s Medicare My Way!

Why is Medicare My
Way Different?

I am an Independent Broker. As a Medicare specialist I have
access to most Medicare insurance providers.I can help with Medicare Advantage, Part D, and Medicare Supplement plans.I do not represent just one single insurance
company.My goal is to present all
options from several companies to help my client’s choose the most affordable
plan to meet their needs.

Is there a cost to
use your service?

My Service and Consultations are Free of Charge. I am paid
through the major carriers that I represent. The rates you would receive from
an Insurance company are exactly the same with Medicare My Way. Whether my
clients are turning 65 and need help explaining the complexities of Medicare in
simple terms or just simply need my help enrolling them into a plan, I can help
with no additional fees.

Where are you
located?

My office is in Fort Thomas.I have clients that appreciate that they have a local Consultant to help
them sort through all of the options they are presented with. The amount of
Medicare Junk Mail can be overwhelming!Regardless
of how much or how little assistance is needed, I can discuss options in
person, email or via phone.

Fort Thomas residents are known for their hometown pride. An abundance of love and appreciation for the city shined throughout this summer’s 150th year celebration. The heart of Fort Thomas swelled as everyone came out to support local businesses, meet new friends and catch up with neighbors.

To celebrate and commemorate the 150th celebration, Fort Thomas resident and owner of Fort Thomas Coffee, David Valentine, created a limited edition sesquicentennial t-shirt that is available at the coffee shop for $20. David has designed several unique t-shirts including a silhouette of the iconic Tower and of course “Ohtucky” shirts for those who have affinities for both sides of the Ohio River.

Stop by Fort Thomas Coffee and pick up one of their new Fall menu drinks and a fabulous new t-shirt!

Dr. Joe Herald grew up and currently resides in Fort Thomas, KY. He graduated from Highlands High School and completed his D.M.D. at the University of Kentucky. In 2009 he opened Herald Family Dentistryin Southgate, KY. His office manager and hygienist, Amber Kleier, also lives in Fort Thomas. He has an outstanding staff as one testimonial from the website states:

“The practice has an amazing staff who are compassionate, understanding and kind”.

Dr. Herald is very active in his church and community. He and his wife Danielle have two beautiful daughters, Avery and Makenzie.

HALLOWEEN CANDY BUY-BACK PROGRAM

Herald Family Dentistry is currently offering a Halloween Candy Buy-Back program. You don’t have to be a patient to participate, however, Dr. Herald is currently accepting new patients. They would love to take care of your family’s dental needs.